Pickering councillor dies

A long-time councillor in Pickering has died. Rick Johnson, who represented the city’s third ward for more than 20 years, passed away on Sept. 27.

“Councillor Johnson was a dedicated and passionate advocate for Pickering and represented Ward 3 tirelessly for over two decades. In that span, he worked diligently on behalf of Pickering as both a politician and as a community leader,” a news release from the city reads.

From 1988 to 1991, Johnson served as a local councillor before transitioning to a regional councillor from 1991 to 2010. In 2014, Johnson returned to serve as a city councillor.